The Executioner's Right (The Executioner's Song Book 1)

by D. K. Holmberg

  He needed to tell him about the Client.

  “You have not,” Meyer said.

  Finn let out a small sigh. “I helped a friend. I didn’t want him to get captured. He had more prior convictions than I did.”

  “So, you risked yourself for a friend.”

  “Yes.”

  “Even knowing you were at the viscount’s home and the repercussions would be much greater than any other job you had taken.”

  “I didn’t think I would be sentenced to die.”

  “Perhaps not.” Meyer stepped into the room, and he looked up to the ceiling. “What of the others who were there?”

  Finn shook his head. “They escaped.”

  “Unharmed, I presume?”

  Finn nodded. “I don’t know what happened to… my friend.” He almost said Oscar, which would have been as bad as admitting that he was there with the Hand. As he looked at Meyer, Finn suspected he already knew who he had helped escape. “I found him in the room. He was injured. The others had run.”

  “Did they take anything?”

  “I don’t know, but I’d heard they were after a bowl.”

  Meyer studied him for a long moment. “Thank you for your honesty.”

  Finn could only nod.

  Meyer had known. All along, Meyer had known.

  What was I thinking, that I could keep anything from him?

  He had decades of experience interrogating people. What was his time working with Finn but a prolonged interrogation?

  Finn followed him back out in the street. Meyer closed the door and pulled the rope free, bundling it up and stuffing it into his pocket.

  “You don’t need to investigate anymore?” Finn asked.

  “It’s doubtful we will find anything else. I requested the Archers who apprehended Luca to leave the ropes in place so that I might have an opportunity to take a look myself. I didn’t think I would find anything. I thought it would be beneficial for you to accompany me, as well.”

  “I didn’t find anything either.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.”

  Meyer nodded for him to follow, and Finn trailed after him. They made their way deeper into the city, toward the palace. Bells tolled in the distance, ringing ten times. It was still early in the morning.

  Lena might be up by now. He imagined her checking on their mother. But what else would she be doing?

  They turned a corner, and in the distance, Finn saw City Hall.

  “Another sentencing?”

  Meyer nodded. “Another, though this might go differently than the last one.”

  When they reached City Hall, Meyer headed straight inside and to the sentencing room. Most of the jurors were there already, along with the magister. The only one Finn didn’t see seated was Bellut.

  The magister nodded at Meyer as he appeared. “This sentencing should not take long.”

  “I present myself for the requirements of the jury,” Meyer said.

  The magister looked behind Meyer, and two Archers stepped into the room, leading Rock. Rock glanced to Finn, as if hoping for help. He walked more comfortably than Finn had when he had come for his own sentencing. Rock must not have experienced the boots quite as long as Finn had.

  “Luca Grobbe,” the magister said. “You have been brought before the jury of Verendal accused of stealing. What say you?”

  Rock glared at the magister before turning his irritation on the other jurors.

  What was he thinking, doing that?

  He seemed annoyed more than anything else.

  It was a dangerous gamble and one that was bound to end poorly for him. The jurors didn’t look kindly upon thieves, and Finn could tell from the way they watched him that they didn’t care much for Rock.

  Only one of them seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was the heavyset older man he’d seen talking with the King, and he regarded Rock with a look of concern in his eyes.

  “I’ve already told your hangman that I didn’t do anything.”

  “You were observed breaking into the home of Bellut Indar.”

  Finn blinked.

  That had been Bellut’s home?

  Had that been intentional, or had that just been bad luck? If the Client were another juror, then maybe they were trying to implicate Bellut.

  What other reason would there be?

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Two Archers have reported finding you within his home. You were apprehended there and brought to Declan Prison, where you were questioned.” The magister turned to Meyer.

  Meyer stepped forward. “He admits to having been in the home and admits that he was after a necklace but did not take anything.”

  “And your recommendation?”

  “He has multiple prior sentences, and unfortunately, they have been ineffective in deterring his current behavior. Given his known associates, he is at great danger of repeating this pattern.”

  “Understood,” the magister said. “Do you have anything more to say?” He looked at Rock, who glared at him, saying nothing.

  This was the time when Rock needed to say something. Multiple prior sentences and imprisonment at Declan suggested that the jury would convict him harshly.

  Finn tried to get Rock’s attention.

  Rock didn’t look in his direction.

  Stubborn man. Look over at me!

  Even if he did, Finn didn’t know if there would be anything that he could do to convince Rock to say anything else.

  “Very well,” the magister said. “As you have multiple prior convictions, and Master Meyer fears a repeat offense, I will make the suggestion to the jury that we exile Luca Grobbe from Verendal for his crimes. What say the jury?”

  The magister turned to the jury, and Finn let out a relieved sigh.

  Exile was far better of an outcome than what he had expected.

  It was a far better outcome than what Finn had been offered.

  Knowing Rock, he likely wouldn’t abide by the exile. Which meant that eventually, Rock would end up back before the magister and the jury, and he would end up sentenced even more severely.

  The door at the back of the chamber opened, and Finn glanced over to see Bellut come striding in, dressed in the same clothing he’d seen him wearing each time the jury met. Rage twisted his face, and he glared at Finn for a moment before glancing at Meyer and hurrying past Rock to take his position on the jury bench. Finn understood his anger. If his home had been broken into, he’d be angry, as well.

  “I apologize for my delay. It seems the Archers had cordoned off my home, making it difficult for me to prepare myself for the day.”

  “The cordoning-off of the crime scene is tradition,” Meyer said.

  “Indeed it is,” the magister said. “I imagine that as Master Meyer has presented himself and the facts before the jury, he has removed such barricades?”

  Meyer nodded. “There is no further need for the barricade,” he said.

  “Very well. As you have just arrived, we have made a motion to vote on the exile of Luca Grobbe.”

  “No exile,” Bellut said.

  “He has prior convictions,” the magister said. “Master Meyer remains concerned that he will be a repeat offender.”

  “No exile. He deserves a greater punishment than simply exile.” Bellut swept his gaze at the other jurors before looking to the magister. “The viscount is most adamant about this. You understand the stance he has taken on crime in the city on the king’s behalf.”

  “I am well aware of the viscount’s position.”

  “It is a position that was affirmed by the king himself during his last visit. If you have questions about it, you can ask him when he returns. He will be here in a few days to complete the treaty.”

  “That will not be necessary,” the magister said. “It’s time to vote.”

  “The viscount, along with the king, has been adamant that crime such as this poses a danger to the kingdom. A man such as Luca Grobbe,
who would dare attack a servant of the crown such as myself, has little regard for the rule of law. I move that we proceed with capital punishment.”

  Finn jerked his head around and looked at Bellut.

  He could tell from the expression of the others on the jury that they knew they had little choice in the matter.

  “The magister called for the vote,” Bellut said.

  “It is far past time that an example must be set.” He glanced briefly to Finn before turning his attention to the other jurors. “I suggest execution by the hanging.”

  “Hanging for stealing?” This came from the heavyset man. “I understand it was your home, but that is a bit much.”

  “If the viscount and the king feel that capital punishment for repeat offenders is appropriate, then perhaps the rope is an adequate deterrence,” one of the other women said.

  “We serve the king,” the fat juror Finn thought could be the Client added.

  Others murmured their approval.

  Bellut turned toward the magister.

  The magister seemed to consider for a moment and then turned his attention to Rock. “In the matter of Luca Grobbe, the jury has made a recommendation of execution by hanging. All in favor?”

  All hands went up on the jury, though the heavyset man raised his hand more slowly.

  “The sentence has been voted and approved. May the gods carry you to the afterlife, Luca Grobbe.”

  A pair of Archers came into the room, and they grabbed Rock. As he started past, Rock grabbed Finn by the arm and leaned close.

  “Rock, I’m—”

  He didn’t let Finn finish.

  “You tell the King to get the money to who he promised. You understand me, Shuffles?” The Archers dragged him away, but Rock kept staring at Finn. “You tell him!” Rock shouted.

  Finn turned slowly and found Meyer watching him.

  The jury stood, stretching, and the magister looked in Finn’s direction. “You won’t be able to exert your right on this one, Master Meyer,” he said.

  Meyer said nothing.

  “As the jury has no further sentences to enact, I call for dismissal,” the magister said.

  Meyer nodded to Finn. “Come. We go.”

  Finn followed him out of the chamber, out of City Hall, but couldn’t help feel as if he had one of the juror’s gaze on his back the entire time.

  “Can’t you do anything?” Finn said.

  “What would you have me do?”

  “I don’t know. I have the sense you disagreed with the sentencing.”

  Meyer glanced over. “I am not a juror. It is my responsibility to carry out the sentencing, not to question it.”

  “You did with me.”

  Meyer was silent for a few steps as they continued to put distance between them and City Hall. “Yes. I did with you.”

  Finn couldn’t tell if Meyer thought that had been a mistake or not.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Finn waited outside of the Wenderwolf, though he didn’t know if he should even be there. The tavern looked different in the daylight, though the light faded, leaving a trail of sunlight streaking across the ground. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his more formal clothing this time. There wasn’t a point in it. He didn’t intend to hide.

  He would have to go into the tavern.

  The day had gone slowly. Meyer continually pressed him about various things that Finn had been studying in the anatomy book, almost as if he were concerned that Finn hadn’t been studying the way he wanted him to. When Finn managed to answer some of the questions the right way, he had received a bit of praise from Meyer, something rare with the executioner.

  There hadn’t been any further lessons about executions. Finn should be thankful for that. He didn’t want to think about what they’d have to do to Rock. It would be a they, too. Now that he was an apprentice, he was going to be a part of it.

  And this was Rock.

  His friend.

  Oscar had been his oldest friend, but Rock had been his closest friend in the crew.

  He couldn’t kill a friend. He knew that much.

  Can I risk helping him?

  He didn’t know if he dared.

  After all the time he’d worked with Rock, there was still more to him than Finn had known. He needed to get to the King to find out who Rock wanted to get money to but didn’t know how to bridge the subject.

  There had been no real movement in or out of the tavern. It was still early enough in the day that he didn’t know if he’d even see anyone heading in or out of the building, but he continued watching and waiting. Nervous energy filled him so that Finn danced from place to place, staying on his toes, worried about what he’d say to them.

  This time, it didn’t matter to him who he found. It could be Wolf or the King, though Finn wanted to find Oscar. That would be the best for everyone in the crew, mostly because Finn didn’t intend to actually help the King with the next job. With his family now settled with Meyer, he couldn’t.

  It had started to get late, and Finn had started to debate returning to Meyer’s to continue his studies when he saw the Hand's distinctive gait.

  Oscar had a stealthy way of moving, but there was something about the dangerous grace he carried himself with that made it so that Finn identified him easily.

  Finn separated from the growing shadows and headed over to Oscar.

  It didn’t take long for Oscar to notice him.

  Oscar spun, his body tense as if to either strike or run, before relaxing. “Finn. What are you doing out here?”

  “Waiting for you. I don’t have much time”—at least, he shouldn’t take much time, whether or not he had it—“but I wanted the crew to know what happened with Rock. He got sentenced.”

  Oscar cocked his head to the side. “Already? That seems soon.”

  “I don’t know whether the timing is sooner than usual, but he’s to be executed. Hanging.”

  Oscar regarded him a moment. “Do you know when this is supposed to happen?”

  Finn shook his head. “I tried getting Meyer to give me more information, but he’s focused on my training. He’s concerned about the testing I’m supposed to be getting ready for.”

  “What kind of testing?”

  Finn shrugged. “I don’t really know, to be honest. Some sort of Executioner Court. He didn’t really tell me much more than that.” Finn had an idea of what it would entail but didn’t know with any certainty. Questions about what he’d been studying. Probably a sentencing. The gods only knew what else.

  Oscar glanced toward the tavern before looking back at Finn. “If you’re supposed to be preparing for testing, then you should prepare. Don’t let this keep you from your responsibilities.”

  “It’s not. I just want to—”

  Oscar squeezed his shoulder. “I know what you want to do, Finn. It’s what you’ve wanted to do for as long as your father’s been gone. Don’t let this opportunity slip away from you. Use it to make things better for yourself.”

  “I can’t sit by while the crew puts themselves into danger.” And while Rock prepared for his sentencing. Finn had to help him somehow. “Just let the King know what I told you. And let him know that Rock wanted to make sure that he got the money to the person he promised.”

  Oscar frowned. “He said that?”

  Finn nodded. “Who is it?”

  Oscar sighed. “His niece. Poor bastard. She lost her father years ago.”

  “How did she lose him?”

  Oscar mimed a rope and hanging. “His sister got caught up with a man running a crew. Had a little girl. Her man got pinched and sentenced to hang.”

  “Who was it?”

  “Rog Lether.”

  Finn groaned. Lether. The same man the iron masters had mocked. At least Finn knew why he’d been crying going to his sentencing. “I didn’t know.”

  “Ever since then, Rock has been providing for them. Tries to keep some distance, though, which is why he asked the King to get mon
ey, I suppose. Rock never liked to talk about it.”

  “I didn’t know.” Rock hadn’t shared, though that wasn’t uncommon in the crew.

  “I only knew because I snooped around. I like to know as much as I can about the people I’m working with.”

  “Like you know about Wolf and the King?”

  “They’re a little harder,” Oscar said. “And what really matters with the King is the jobs.”

  Finn frowned at Oscar. He knew there was more to it than that, and that Oscar was keeping something from him, but didn’t push.

  “You need to stay away from here, Finn. I don’t want you to get caught up in this job they’re trying to pull. That’s not what you need to be a part of.”

  “I can help.”

  “You can. That’s why you need to stay away. You do this, you get involved the way you’re thinking, and you’re going to lose whatever connection you have with the hangman. I don’t know him at all, but I know his reputation. He’s a good man, isn’t he?”

  Finn nodded slowly. “He’s a good man. He helped me find my sister, and I think he’s trying to help my mother.” And if Finn did a good job for him, he had to think there might be something Meyer would be able to tell him about what happened to his father. He wanted a chance to know more about that, to see if there was anything he might know about where his father ended up and what Finn could do to help him, if anything.

  “Then it’s even more imperative that you go back. Stay away from this job. It’s dangerous enough as it is. You’ve got your crew now. Don’t lose it. Maybe he can even help you figure out what happened to your father.”

  Finn looked at Oscar for a moment. Finn had considered asking Meyer about his father, but there had never been a good time. If he could figure out what happened to him, maybe he could get word.

  The Hand’s eyes darted all around him, and with the darks he wore—Finn hadn’t even paid attention to the fact that he had his darks on tonight—he blended into the shadows around the street.

  “I don’t want what happened to him to happen to you.”

  Oscar smiled sadly. “It’s too late for me, I’m afraid. It doesn’t have to be too late for you. I can make sure you stay safe. Which is what I’m going to do. That’s the promise I made to your father.”